Government appointments should be by merit, not federal character, says Osinbajo

Government appointments should be by merit, not federal character, says Osinbajo

- Yemi Osinbajo has said the dominant principle when appointing people into public offices should be merit instead of federal character

- The vice president made the remarks in a keynote address he delivered on Saturday, October 3

- Osinbajo stressed on the importance of merit to attain sustainable economic growth

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Nigeria's Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, October 3, said appointing people into government positions should be based on merit rather than federal character.

Osinbajo who stated this at a teleconference organized by the Nigeria Leadership Initiative explained that this is for the country to attain economic growth and development, The Cable reports.

He said though the federal character principle is essential in creating a balance, however, if a position is reserved for a particular zone, the area should produce the best.

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The vice president stressed the point that country needs a value system that promotes economic development.

Osinbajo: Appointment into govt positions should be by merit
Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Photo credit: Vanguard.
Source: UGC

He said:

“I need to make this point because time and time again, we get arguments around whether the appointment of persons into public institutions should be based on federal character. The dominant principle should be merit.
“Federal character is essentially affirmative to create a balance, but even if we are to create that balance, it should still be based on merit. For example, if we are to reserve an office for a particular zone, that zone should be able to produce the best.”

His remarks are coming amid grievances over the lopsided appointment of persons into government positions by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Over the years, the current administration Buhari has been criticized for appointing more northerners.

Back in 2015, a lawyer, ‎Dim-Udebuani Marcel sued Buhari for violating the principle of federal character enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.

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The suit with the chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC) as 2nd defendant in the matter was filed at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Sunny Onuesoke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state, has queried President Buhari on why a southerner cannot head the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

He said the continuous appointment of northerners as chairman of the country's anti-graft agency was against the federal character policy and made it look exclusive to only northerners.

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Source: Legit.ng

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